Eurocrat threat to farmers' money

Eurocrats have raised questions about the legality of British Government schemes for paying land managers for environmental work –raising the threat of slower payments to farmers.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says there is no question of farmers having to repay money, or not getting what they are due but it is likely that stewardship scheme payments from next year will have to be held until they have all been cleared, so they can all be paid out at the same time.

Auditors say the UK is bending the rules by making payments on a rolling basis.

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A Defra spokesman said: "Defra does not expect to make any changes before 2011 at the earliest. In the meantime, farmers are encouraged to continue to apply for new or renewed environmental stewardship agreements as before."